So not much to report on during the weekend, that would encompass days 6 and 7. Mostly just sat in my room and did nothing. Absolutely nothing, and it was great. I haven't done nothing since my time in Korea. When you have a wife, kids, house, pets, etc...nothing is a long lost friend. So I caught up with nothing. I got up Saturday morning and went and rented a movie, then I decided I needed some Tylenol and went to go get some...I forgot it was Saturday. Here, Saturdays are when the brand new Airmen get to spend time with their family after eight weeks of basic training, so this place was SWAMPED. Luckily, I know where everything is on this base so I went to the other side where families and new Airmen have no clue as to their existence.
Afterward...TV and internet, for good measure I threw in a nap. I think the most I did all day was go off base about a mile and get some Arby's.
Sunday was a repeat performance.
As for Day 8, a.k.a Monday...what a suckfest that was. They have us all get together first in an auditorium...190 people crammed in there, then they tell us what we will do for the next two hours, and then they make a point to say "now if we correct you on anything, don't take it personal". Wow, really? I understand how the rumors about the Air Force get started, or maybe it is a reality I'm shielded from because there is little room for error or forgiveness in my job. Here I am in a room with 190 other Technical Sergeants and people are already making apologies so as not to hurt anyone's feelings. What the hell? I thought this was the military, I guess I took a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
So we head outside for our adventure, a lot of people haven't marched or done any real drill/ceremony stuff in 10+ years. It was a disaster. From the instructors down to the student leaders. Now I know it may sound like I am bitter that I wasn't picked for a leadership position, but...well first off, now I am glad I didn't get picked, but really...I know I could have performed circles around everyone I saw. Honest to god, call me a liar, call me bitter, call me whatever you like...it was just bad. The instructors and a wanna be drill sergeant or two are even making it worse. I have a TI in my flight and he is about to explode, and rightfully so. Which further validated my own thoughts. I have never in my life questioned why I was here...until that moment. In that moment I thought "Why the hell didn't I join the Marines?"
Speaking of Marines, walking to the chow hall I approach two young Marines, one looks me dead in the eye and says "Good morning Tech Sergeant". I was taken aback, here was a polite and sincere Marine extending my proper courtesy. Holy hell, and that reinforced my thought from earlier. I bet the Marines of my same rank are getting their feelings considered before something even potentially happens...they just receive the information, process it and prepare for more information. Beautiful. I tell you, I have learned so much from this trip...but none of it was purposeful or part of curriculum. Back to the chow hall thought...discovered a hidden gem, the Defense Language Institute is here and we teach other nations how to speak English. Everyone from Koreans to Brazilians to Zimbabwe to all spots in between. Great food and it is amazing to just watch everyone interact. I am a big time people watcher and this was like a dining version of the United Nations right in front of my very eyes.
Fast forward to today, well...last night, had a decent amount of beers and won a hat at the club. Yeah, I'm awesome. Now this morning, feeling a little blah'd. Not hungover really, but as close as one can get to it. Go to get some breakfast, fill up my belly...walk outside, and it is pouring rain. Oh, and I am in blues. Yeah. Get to class, all wet. Then we have a guest speaker in an auditorium across the street we walk to, about 1/4 mile or so away, get over there and listen...go to leave, POURING DOWN RAIN. Get back to class and soaked to the bone.
Man what a shitty day, at least it is cool now though. We'll see how long this lasts. I've never been happier to get out of my blues.
Days Four & Five
Did I mention I have a maid this time around? Well, housekeeping. Not a mile from where I woke up before the Sun's alarm clock went off all those years ago...used to have to iron socks and have everything perfect. Even with perfection, in basic training...even when you are right, you are wrong. Now I have my bed made for me.
I haven't left the base since I got here, I know the area well. I am in San Antonio fairly often, I just know what will happen if I go off base...I will also go broke. I make a good living but we aren't millionaires in the military, and even though they pay for my room and to eat each day (not much since we are supposed to eat at the chow hall) there isn't any money for incidentals. If I need something else, I pay for it. I like too many things that have lights and make noise, those things are expensive.
Speaking of “too”...yesterday we had a discussion over how “to” and “too” are used, I can only imagine what will happen when we hit the advanced things in class. Oh and then there was a one hour discussion semi-related to the lesson on bullet statements...it somehow evolved, or devolved I guess, into build-a-bear. Then it is hilarious because they will tell us “We know how you would do it” or “how we should do it” but in the same breath they tell us we are going to do it a different way while in school. So lets learn and absorb everything they “teach” us, so we can turn around and dump it when we get back to work.
I just don't understand the processes. On top of the madness it has still been hot. We broke 80 in the class today. How I have stayed awake and/or not murdered someone is beyond me at this point. I think the guy next to me is saving me, he is British and says some of the craziest things on a whim. I don't have much of a filter between my brain and mouth, but this dude and a couple of others just don't have an off switch. At times it is insanely hilarious, but more often than not...it just gets annoying.
Then there is the other guy from Tennessee in my class...me of course being the other. The guy is hilarious, however I think a lot of it is unintentional. I think I have made an serious effort to try and debunk the thoughts that people associate with my accent, and then I meet guys like this...and he completely undoes everything I have done for 31 years and reinforces that “good ol' boy” running around barefoot imagery. Like I said though, hell of a nice guy, would probably give you the shirt off his back...he is just country as cornbread.
I'm just ready to be done with this, academically I am bored as hell to be quite honest. That and knowing people who I have known over the years that made it through...hell, this blog alone is better written than anything they ever did in class. I'm pretty sure I've got this one sewed up, it's just the formality. They should let you just sit down and take a test and write a paper, you blow it out of the water and they hand you your certificate and call it a day.
I like most the people in the class, some are harder to talk to than others, but that is life. As far as the entire school goes...there are several I want to knock out at the first opportunity. You can spot them early on, the ones gunning for recognition. It's just sad, I would love to see a lot of people outside of this environment to see what they are really like. I'm guessing either clueless or...well, clueless is all I can imagine. There was one guy today at our “icebreaker”(which was one of the lamest things I have ever been to in my life, nothing like forced fun with academia and forced esprit de corps mixed in) who took it upon himself to be the noise police and would yell “HEY!” whenever it got a bit noisy. I never saw the guy and no one else seemed to know who it was either, but we could all hear him. If I knew who it was I guarantee we would have met his ass in the parking lot.
Final note and I will seal this entry with a kiss...what is bugging me the most, everyone except one person in the class and just a couple of instructors ARE ALL THE SAME RANK. Yet some seem to think they need to treat the rest of us like were children or just flat our retarded. Again...I would love to see one of these people out there in the real world, or better yet...put them in the trenches. I think we've got a lot of scared kitties or people with Napoleon complexes who would get eaten up. I'm looking forward to the day when one of these people come at me sideways, get your bail money ready.
Sleeping in for the first time since Korea...sweet
I haven't left the base since I got here, I know the area well. I am in San Antonio fairly often, I just know what will happen if I go off base...I will also go broke. I make a good living but we aren't millionaires in the military, and even though they pay for my room and to eat each day (not much since we are supposed to eat at the chow hall) there isn't any money for incidentals. If I need something else, I pay for it. I like too many things that have lights and make noise, those things are expensive.
Speaking of “too”...yesterday we had a discussion over how “to” and “too” are used, I can only imagine what will happen when we hit the advanced things in class. Oh and then there was a one hour discussion semi-related to the lesson on bullet statements...it somehow evolved, or devolved I guess, into build-a-bear. Then it is hilarious because they will tell us “We know how you would do it” or “how we should do it” but in the same breath they tell us we are going to do it a different way while in school. So lets learn and absorb everything they “teach” us, so we can turn around and dump it when we get back to work.
I just don't understand the processes. On top of the madness it has still been hot. We broke 80 in the class today. How I have stayed awake and/or not murdered someone is beyond me at this point. I think the guy next to me is saving me, he is British and says some of the craziest things on a whim. I don't have much of a filter between my brain and mouth, but this dude and a couple of others just don't have an off switch. At times it is insanely hilarious, but more often than not...it just gets annoying.
Then there is the other guy from Tennessee in my class...me of course being the other. The guy is hilarious, however I think a lot of it is unintentional. I think I have made an serious effort to try and debunk the thoughts that people associate with my accent, and then I meet guys like this...and he completely undoes everything I have done for 31 years and reinforces that “good ol' boy” running around barefoot imagery. Like I said though, hell of a nice guy, would probably give you the shirt off his back...he is just country as cornbread.
I'm just ready to be done with this, academically I am bored as hell to be quite honest. That and knowing people who I have known over the years that made it through...hell, this blog alone is better written than anything they ever did in class. I'm pretty sure I've got this one sewed up, it's just the formality. They should let you just sit down and take a test and write a paper, you blow it out of the water and they hand you your certificate and call it a day.
I like most the people in the class, some are harder to talk to than others, but that is life. As far as the entire school goes...there are several I want to knock out at the first opportunity. You can spot them early on, the ones gunning for recognition. It's just sad, I would love to see a lot of people outside of this environment to see what they are really like. I'm guessing either clueless or...well, clueless is all I can imagine. There was one guy today at our “icebreaker”(which was one of the lamest things I have ever been to in my life, nothing like forced fun with academia and forced esprit de corps mixed in) who took it upon himself to be the noise police and would yell “HEY!” whenever it got a bit noisy. I never saw the guy and no one else seemed to know who it was either, but we could all hear him. If I knew who it was I guarantee we would have met his ass in the parking lot.
Final note and I will seal this entry with a kiss...what is bugging me the most, everyone except one person in the class and just a couple of instructors ARE ALL THE SAME RANK. Yet some seem to think they need to treat the rest of us like were children or just flat our retarded. Again...I would love to see one of these people out there in the real world, or better yet...put them in the trenches. I think we've got a lot of scared kitties or people with Napoleon complexes who would get eaten up. I'm looking forward to the day when one of these people come at me sideways, get your bail money ready.
Sleeping in for the first time since Korea...sweet
Day Three
Well hell, didn't get any of the positions. Don't know who all did. No biggies, I had a feeling after the stutter step and missing my stopping place that I probably wasn't going to be in there. I'm not going to dwell on that.
Not much in the realm of excitement today from a class perspective. I don't remember much, it was hot as Hades for some reason and all of us were miserable. I have a headache as I type this out right now.
I came home, jumped right in the shower to cool off. Good thing it was to cool off, there is little to no water pressure to begin with, it just kind of falls out instead of spraying. Then, I had zero hot water. I put on my uniform again and decided to head out on base to get a couple of things. I left the uniform on because it makes life a bit easier, the basic trainees run in fear and let you go ahead. Hey, they have nothing but time.
I walk into the bathroom and take care of business, a basic trainee comes strolling in and sees me, I say not a word but look at him and he locks it up, hands to the side and the blood flushes from his face, he is in fear that I am about to yell at him for just walking in all relaxed. Could I? Sure...but I'm not like that.
This reminds me though...a lot of you may think I could have told him to relax or "at ease", but at this point...you just can not be nice. Period. It's a rite of passage. It's part of the tradition. I have no problem ripping someone apart if they deserve it, but I'm not "that guy" who has to go ape shit over every single infraction, no matter how minor. They guy knew he wasn't walking like he was supposed to and let down his guard. He quickly corrected it so no need to counsel him. Don't confuse any of this with being mean, it really isn't...it's just not being nice.
If I try to be cool about it or let him off the hook, he remembers that this Technical Sergeant who likely outranks his TI thought it would be o.k. since I told him to relax. Then you have a breakdown in discipline and next thing you know someone has this kid he has to supervise who thinks everything is alright. We have to keep that discipline...it is what separates us apples from those oranges.
After that fun I head back to my room to change, now I have my stomach grumbles.
In what has become my daily ritual...I went to the "mini-mall" for dinner, it near where the basic trainees go to get basic items, and if they are really good they get "base liberty" and can go there to eat Subway, Popeye's or a bootleg Taco Bell stand.
Basic trainees are everywhere, I am sure the novelty will wear off at some point during this six weeks, but for now it is highly entertaining. I keep my game face on just to keep them all guessing. Am I a TI lurking about waiting to see someone doing wrong? Don't worry, again, I'm not being mean... at this stage you are paranoid as hell and think a TI will come out of a toilet if you fart wrong.
As I hit the food court I see even more trainees, either they have a nice TI or they are really awesome, because there must have been 100 trainees in line for Subway. I am guessing they were told they could eat nothing else, tacos and Popeye's were completely dead. I decided on tacos for those wondering.
The camera on the phone sucks but I needed to capture the moment, behind me is the gaggle of trainees at Subway.
Don't know what will happen next, probably watch some TV tonight and just go to sleep. I hate waking up in the morning!
Not much in the realm of excitement today from a class perspective. I don't remember much, it was hot as Hades for some reason and all of us were miserable. I have a headache as I type this out right now.
I came home, jumped right in the shower to cool off. Good thing it was to cool off, there is little to no water pressure to begin with, it just kind of falls out instead of spraying. Then, I had zero hot water. I put on my uniform again and decided to head out on base to get a couple of things. I left the uniform on because it makes life a bit easier, the basic trainees run in fear and let you go ahead. Hey, they have nothing but time.
I walk into the bathroom and take care of business, a basic trainee comes strolling in and sees me, I say not a word but look at him and he locks it up, hands to the side and the blood flushes from his face, he is in fear that I am about to yell at him for just walking in all relaxed. Could I? Sure...but I'm not like that.
This reminds me though...a lot of you may think I could have told him to relax or "at ease", but at this point...you just can not be nice. Period. It's a rite of passage. It's part of the tradition. I have no problem ripping someone apart if they deserve it, but I'm not "that guy" who has to go ape shit over every single infraction, no matter how minor. They guy knew he wasn't walking like he was supposed to and let down his guard. He quickly corrected it so no need to counsel him. Don't confuse any of this with being mean, it really isn't...it's just not being nice.
If I try to be cool about it or let him off the hook, he remembers that this Technical Sergeant who likely outranks his TI thought it would be o.k. since I told him to relax. Then you have a breakdown in discipline and next thing you know someone has this kid he has to supervise who thinks everything is alright. We have to keep that discipline...it is what separates us apples from those oranges.
After that fun I head back to my room to change, now I have my stomach grumbles.
In what has become my daily ritual...I went to the "mini-mall" for dinner, it near where the basic trainees go to get basic items, and if they are really good they get "base liberty" and can go there to eat Subway, Popeye's or a bootleg Taco Bell stand.
Basic trainees are everywhere, I am sure the novelty will wear off at some point during this six weeks, but for now it is highly entertaining. I keep my game face on just to keep them all guessing. Am I a TI lurking about waiting to see someone doing wrong? Don't worry, again, I'm not being mean... at this stage you are paranoid as hell and think a TI will come out of a toilet if you fart wrong.
As I hit the food court I see even more trainees, either they have a nice TI or they are really awesome, because there must have been 100 trainees in line for Subway. I am guessing they were told they could eat nothing else, tacos and Popeye's were completely dead. I decided on tacos for those wondering.
The camera on the phone sucks but I needed to capture the moment, behind me is the gaggle of trainees at Subway.
Don't know what will happen next, probably watch some TV tonight and just go to sleep. I hate waking up in the morning!
Day Two
Heading on in, we go straight to classrooms now and get right to things.
Pre-tests, blah blah blah blah blah. Stupid. Nuff said. They tell us we won't know how we did and they won't know how we did. So what the hell is the point of three hours of testing?
After the tests it was time for lunch, not wanting to go off base at lunch due to traffic, I decided to go to one of the stores on base that has a Subway. I make my way in, look by an ATM and see a face...a face I had not seen in 13 years.
Crazy Pee Wee??? No..it couldn't be. I approached, saw his name tag and then I knew it was him. My TI, back then he was a Senior Airman...he got his campaign hat with my flight, we were the first flight he led. We called him Crazy Pee Wee because he looked like a homicidal Pee Wee Herman with a high and tight.
He used to have this damn watch that had a cover on it, looked like a camouflage wristband, but the top of it opened and closed with velcro. So every time he checked the time...you got that sound. To this day when I hear velcro I think “what time is it?”. Funny how those things stay with you, years later Mitch Hedberg made a joke about gambling and having a velcro wallet...he said something along the lines of “that sound was the sound of addiction”. I totally got it, more than most likely would.
Kind bizarre how things came full circle.
For fun, here is 13 years ago...
We talked for a moment and shook hands, it was surreal. Instead of yelling at me it was "good to see ya man!". Just strange. Hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through the system. In a moment that I will never forget and everyone in the military should never forget...never be a dick to people you work with. Odds are, you will see them again. Not only did I see him again, but now he saw something as he went to leave...he looked at my sleeves, then looked at the medals on my chest. We are now the same rank, both Technical Sergeants. He had a four year head start on me and now we were "tied" and judging from his face when he looked at my medals, I think I might have had a few more than him.
Hey, if nothing else Crazy Pee Wee helped get me in the door, and 13 years later...almost to the damn day, he reminded me that things can come full circle, and you never know what the years are going to bring. Good or bad. While I've been there and done that, put bombs on targets, dealt with space shuttles crashing, buildings on fire and countless things in between...he was kind of stuck in place. Not to take from him, he's still a TI and still generating Airmen for the most powerful Air Force in the world...but he's still doing what he did 13 years ago. Every eight weeks he starts over again. Every eight weeks for 13 years starting from scratch and going through the same exact routine.
I couldn't handle that, where is my variety? Hell, I can barely stay on topic for five minutes, let alone same exact thing every day. Enough of the nostalgia though, lets get back to class.
Fast forward and we had some discussions that were a bore, so far the class seems to not be able to stay on topic. I love to joke and play, but damn it man...even I have my limits.
Finally as the day closed some of us volunteered for a tryout. The tryout came complete with an American Idol like audition for a leadership position. About 70 people give or take tried out, and about 30 of us will get something or be an alternate. I guess this will start to show who is above and beyond. We all stood outside until our turn, then entered the room. Adjusted ourselves for a moment and then marched forward to a panel. Stop in front of them...right face and then stare straight ahead...not looking at them or saying a word. Instead you call out commands and complete them. LEFT FACE! ABOUT FACE! LEFT FACE! PRESENT ARMS! ORDER ARMS! Then do another left face and march out of the room.
That ended my day, results in the morning. I have the voice and commands down, but I may have made a misstep or two, nothing serious but it wasn't exactly how I wanted it to go down. I stop about 1 foot short of where needed, it's hard to do something like that when you have no depth perception. I didn't let it show (I think) that I knew I wasn't on spot. I just rocked it and as I heard my own voice, even I was surprised at how well I sounded. If voice alone wins...I am in there like swim wear. I'm hoping to be flight sergeant, I guess we will see in the morning...
Pre-tests, blah blah blah blah blah. Stupid. Nuff said. They tell us we won't know how we did and they won't know how we did. So what the hell is the point of three hours of testing?
After the tests it was time for lunch, not wanting to go off base at lunch due to traffic, I decided to go to one of the stores on base that has a Subway. I make my way in, look by an ATM and see a face...a face I had not seen in 13 years.
Crazy Pee Wee??? No..it couldn't be. I approached, saw his name tag and then I knew it was him. My TI, back then he was a Senior Airman...he got his campaign hat with my flight, we were the first flight he led. We called him Crazy Pee Wee because he looked like a homicidal Pee Wee Herman with a high and tight.
He used to have this damn watch that had a cover on it, looked like a camouflage wristband, but the top of it opened and closed with velcro. So every time he checked the time...you got that sound. To this day when I hear velcro I think “what time is it?”. Funny how those things stay with you, years later Mitch Hedberg made a joke about gambling and having a velcro wallet...he said something along the lines of “that sound was the sound of addiction”. I totally got it, more than most likely would.
Kind bizarre how things came full circle.
For fun, here is 13 years ago...
We talked for a moment and shook hands, it was surreal. Instead of yelling at me it was "good to see ya man!". Just strange. Hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through the system. In a moment that I will never forget and everyone in the military should never forget...never be a dick to people you work with. Odds are, you will see them again. Not only did I see him again, but now he saw something as he went to leave...he looked at my sleeves, then looked at the medals on my chest. We are now the same rank, both Technical Sergeants. He had a four year head start on me and now we were "tied" and judging from his face when he looked at my medals, I think I might have had a few more than him.
Hey, if nothing else Crazy Pee Wee helped get me in the door, and 13 years later...almost to the damn day, he reminded me that things can come full circle, and you never know what the years are going to bring. Good or bad. While I've been there and done that, put bombs on targets, dealt with space shuttles crashing, buildings on fire and countless things in between...he was kind of stuck in place. Not to take from him, he's still a TI and still generating Airmen for the most powerful Air Force in the world...but he's still doing what he did 13 years ago. Every eight weeks he starts over again. Every eight weeks for 13 years starting from scratch and going through the same exact routine.
I couldn't handle that, where is my variety? Hell, I can barely stay on topic for five minutes, let alone same exact thing every day. Enough of the nostalgia though, lets get back to class.
Fast forward and we had some discussions that were a bore, so far the class seems to not be able to stay on topic. I love to joke and play, but damn it man...even I have my limits.
Finally as the day closed some of us volunteered for a tryout. The tryout came complete with an American Idol like audition for a leadership position. About 70 people give or take tried out, and about 30 of us will get something or be an alternate. I guess this will start to show who is above and beyond. We all stood outside until our turn, then entered the room. Adjusted ourselves for a moment and then marched forward to a panel. Stop in front of them...right face and then stare straight ahead...not looking at them or saying a word. Instead you call out commands and complete them. LEFT FACE! ABOUT FACE! LEFT FACE! PRESENT ARMS! ORDER ARMS! Then do another left face and march out of the room.
That ended my day, results in the morning. I have the voice and commands down, but I may have made a misstep or two, nothing serious but it wasn't exactly how I wanted it to go down. I stop about 1 foot short of where needed, it's hard to do something like that when you have no depth perception. I didn't let it show (I think) that I knew I wasn't on spot. I just rocked it and as I heard my own voice, even I was surprised at how well I sounded. If voice alone wins...I am in there like swim wear. I'm hoping to be flight sergeant, I guess we will see in the morning...
Day One
Alarm rings a bit after 5:00 in the morning, I am not a morning person. Yawns, wipe the sleep from my eyes, shower shit and shave...the usual agenda. I get all dolled up in my blues and head out the door.
First things first, we all go to the auditorium and get put into our flights...this is just a small subset from a massive group of people. My flight is comprised of 16 people out of 191 total.
Amazingly, no nerves hitting...which was odd as I expected them, I guess maybe that means I am prepared.. As I sized the room up, I could see others doing the same. Who is going to be the best, who is going to be in terror the whole time and who just looks slovenly. Sadly, quite a few do. I'm never going to be a poster child for the military, but I always look sharp in blues, and day one of class...oh please believe I am going to blow everyone else out of the water for that first impression.
Finally after three hours of the same old briefings about safety, what to expect and all the other mandatory briefs, we break off into our rooms and begin to get to know each other, seems like a pretty good group so far..time will tell. Nothing too serious today, mostly administrative things.
We introduce ourselves and now I start to see all those things I mentioned above. Who is here to win an award, who is here because they have to be and are going to let you know about it, who is just happy to graduate, who is going to be in terror and who is just going to be a dumbass. Looks like we have all the blocks checked...and then some.
First things first, we all go to the auditorium and get put into our flights...this is just a small subset from a massive group of people. My flight is comprised of 16 people out of 191 total.
Amazingly, no nerves hitting...which was odd as I expected them, I guess maybe that means I am prepared.. As I sized the room up, I could see others doing the same. Who is going to be the best, who is going to be in terror the whole time and who just looks slovenly. Sadly, quite a few do. I'm never going to be a poster child for the military, but I always look sharp in blues, and day one of class...oh please believe I am going to blow everyone else out of the water for that first impression.
Finally after three hours of the same old briefings about safety, what to expect and all the other mandatory briefs, we break off into our rooms and begin to get to know each other, seems like a pretty good group so far..time will tell. Nothing too serious today, mostly administrative things.
We introduce ourselves and now I start to see all those things I mentioned above. Who is here to win an award, who is here because they have to be and are going to let you know about it, who is just happy to graduate, who is going to be in terror and who is just going to be a dumbass. Looks like we have all the blocks checked...and then some.
Day Zero
After dealing with the headache of frustration and incompetence that abounded over what should be a simple process (it seems like every time I have to go somewhere TDY (temporary duty) or PCS (permanent change of station, a.k.a. move to another base) it is the first time anyone has ever done it. It's insane and is my biggest gripe with life in the military.
I digress...
I finish my last minute packing, kiss my wife goodbye and go to tell the kids by. Three year old (Calvin) is consumed by Wii and my six year old (Cole) is engaged in epic battle on Halo 2. Neither have real concept of me leaving, last time I left for a decent period was to Korea for a year, Cole is too young to recall as he was three at the time, and Calvin was still forming in my wife's belly. They don't really understand "daddy going away for a while".
Once goodbyes are said and done I start the car and head down Highway 90 on my 150 mile journey east. I'm chugging along and after 20 minutes I realize...I left my laptop, one of my most important things in life and I left it.
After a moment of two of moderate to high cursing, I turn around and head back to get it...I'm now approx 40 minutes behind schedule...but it is my own schedule so no real worries.
Drive, drive, drive and drive some more. Just before 4 PM I hit Lackland AFB, pass all the familiar basic training haunts and see the brand new Airmen marched around by their drill sergeants... or as we call them “Military Training Instructors”, TIs for short. Moments after being lost in nostalgia and the flashbacks that hit me, I decide it would be a good time to in to my room. Each base has a form of hotel we call billeting or lodging. Not much different from you standard 2 star hotel. Some a bit nicer, some not as nice.
As I reach the check in office, I look and see that there is a line out the door...damn it all to hell. Finally, in what seems to be forever (even though I should be used to “hurry up and wait”) I get my room. I spend the next few hours unpacking and getting things squared away.
I discover I brought a bit too much most likely. Laptop, Wii, hard drive, clothes, electric skillet, toaster over...and the list goes on and on. Who knows, I may have use for it all yet.
I digress...
I finish my last minute packing, kiss my wife goodbye and go to tell the kids by. Three year old (Calvin) is consumed by Wii and my six year old (Cole) is engaged in epic battle on Halo 2. Neither have real concept of me leaving, last time I left for a decent period was to Korea for a year, Cole is too young to recall as he was three at the time, and Calvin was still forming in my wife's belly. They don't really understand "daddy going away for a while".
Once goodbyes are said and done I start the car and head down Highway 90 on my 150 mile journey east. I'm chugging along and after 20 minutes I realize...I left my laptop, one of my most important things in life and I left it.
After a moment of two of moderate to high cursing, I turn around and head back to get it...I'm now approx 40 minutes behind schedule...but it is my own schedule so no real worries.
Drive, drive, drive and drive some more. Just before 4 PM I hit Lackland AFB, pass all the familiar basic training haunts and see the brand new Airmen marched around by their drill sergeants... or as we call them “Military Training Instructors”, TIs for short. Moments after being lost in nostalgia and the flashbacks that hit me, I decide it would be a good time to in to my room. Each base has a form of hotel we call billeting or lodging. Not much different from you standard 2 star hotel. Some a bit nicer, some not as nice.
As I reach the check in office, I look and see that there is a line out the door...damn it all to hell. Finally, in what seems to be forever (even though I should be used to “hurry up and wait”) I get my room. I spend the next few hours unpacking and getting things squared away.
I discover I brought a bit too much most likely. Laptop, Wii, hard drive, clothes, electric skillet, toaster over...and the list goes on and on. Who knows, I may have use for it all yet.
Preface
In an effort to help provide a small back story to this, let me tell you how the excitement started.
Friday afternoon on August 28th, my phone begins ringing. I answer and a co-worker informs me that our 1st Sgt called and said I was going to the Non Commissioned Officer Academy at Lackland...AND I HAD TO CALL THIS PERSON ON BASE TO TELL THEM TODAY!
Needless to say, I'm already shaking my head. Not with the fact that I am going, but just how things work sometimes. I call the guy and he tells me, he has to have verification from me that I was told and entered into a system by 30 August, which happens to be a Sunday. Unlike me and a handful of others, no way anyone else is coming in on the weekend to handle business. He then tells me he will order my "rip", which is an official form that "officially" notifies you that you are going and has a few more details, he assures me it will be in my email in a day or two.
I worked Saturday and Sunday and had Monday and Tuesday off, I go in to check email on Tuesday and there is nothing. Nothing Wednesday. So they are in this huge rush to tell me and make sure I know...but now the brakes seem to be on to get me the rip. Finally I call the 1st Sgt and tell him I have nothing, he assures me it will be there and if I don't hear anything by noon on Friday...let him know. Awesome.
Friday rolls around and I get the rip at about 3pm. I can't find my boss to get him to sign it, once he signs it I have to put it in a folder and route it to the 1st Sgt and my administrative commander. So needless to say, its not happening on Friday. Holiday weekend rolls in, I work again...Mon-Tues off. Monday is the holiday, so again...no one is around. Tuesday I go in on my day off to get it all squared away. Wednesday comes and I hear nothing so I pick up the phone again and call someone since I have to travel on “orders”. Orders are another fancy piece of paper that says where you are going and it is approved. You can't go anywhere without them. I'm assured it has been put into the system and people know to expedite it since I leave that upcoming Sunday.
Friday afternoon...2:30 in the afternoon, and I get my orders. So I look at them and hope everything is alright with them because obviously, no way changes are going to get made before I go. Luckily God, Allah, Papa Legba or maybe Santa Claus was watching out for me, because the orders were good to go. When they wanted me to call, there was a rush on it...when I need something, well, let's just take out sweet time.
Friday afternoon on August 28th, my phone begins ringing. I answer and a co-worker informs me that our 1st Sgt called and said I was going to the Non Commissioned Officer Academy at Lackland...AND I HAD TO CALL THIS PERSON ON BASE TO TELL THEM TODAY!
Needless to say, I'm already shaking my head. Not with the fact that I am going, but just how things work sometimes. I call the guy and he tells me, he has to have verification from me that I was told and entered into a system by 30 August, which happens to be a Sunday. Unlike me and a handful of others, no way anyone else is coming in on the weekend to handle business. He then tells me he will order my "rip", which is an official form that "officially" notifies you that you are going and has a few more details, he assures me it will be in my email in a day or two.
I worked Saturday and Sunday and had Monday and Tuesday off, I go in to check email on Tuesday and there is nothing. Nothing Wednesday. So they are in this huge rush to tell me and make sure I know...but now the brakes seem to be on to get me the rip. Finally I call the 1st Sgt and tell him I have nothing, he assures me it will be there and if I don't hear anything by noon on Friday...let him know. Awesome.
Friday rolls around and I get the rip at about 3pm. I can't find my boss to get him to sign it, once he signs it I have to put it in a folder and route it to the 1st Sgt and my administrative commander. So needless to say, its not happening on Friday. Holiday weekend rolls in, I work again...Mon-Tues off. Monday is the holiday, so again...no one is around. Tuesday I go in on my day off to get it all squared away. Wednesday comes and I hear nothing so I pick up the phone again and call someone since I have to travel on “orders”. Orders are another fancy piece of paper that says where you are going and it is approved. You can't go anywhere without them. I'm assured it has been put into the system and people know to expedite it since I leave that upcoming Sunday.
Friday afternoon...2:30 in the afternoon, and I get my orders. So I look at them and hope everything is alright with them because obviously, no way changes are going to get made before I go. Luckily God, Allah, Papa Legba or maybe Santa Claus was watching out for me, because the orders were good to go. When they wanted me to call, there was a rush on it...when I need something, well, let's just take out sweet time.
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